MDPI Echoes University of Basel's Call for Open Access: A Step Towards Equity
In a recent spotlight article, the University of Basel has confirmed its commitment to fully transition to the open access model for publishing all scientific articles in the future.
Dr. Helen Keller, the director of the university library, advocates for libraries to foster the accessibility of scientific research, aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). "The biggest contribution we can make as a library is to facilitate access to high-quality knowledge," Dr. Keller stated.
Under SDG 4, societies and institutions aim to ensure inclusive and equitable access to quality education while promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all. Open Science plays a crucial role in advancing the objectives of SDG 4 by promoting collaboration and knowledge-sharing among researchers and learners worldwide.
MDPI supports the University of Basel's commitment to fully transition its publications to open access. We are offering transparent and cost-effective publishing solutions. The University of Basel is a member of MDPI's Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP), along with twenty other academic institutions that are part of the Consortium of Swiss Academic Libraries (CSAL).
A quirky anecdote connecting MDPI with the local university: In our publishing company's early days, founder Dr. Lin was allowed to use the University of Basel servers to host the MDPI website (go to archive).
Global Impact of Open Access Initiatives
Governments, institutions, and funding agencies worldwide have acknowledged the transformative potential of Open Access (OA) and have enacted policies to advance its adoption. These measures typically mandate that publicly funded research be openly accessible, fueling the proliferation of OA repositories and journals.
For over two decades, open access publishing has been revolutionizing academic dissemination by championing accessibility, transparency, and collaboration. Its support for interdisciplinary research, coupled with evolving policies and innovative methodologies, continues to bolster its influence within the global research community.
About MDPI
A pioneer in scholarly, open access publishing, MDPI has supported academic communities since 1996. MDPI is leading the transition to open science by making more research free and accessible to everyone. Over 3.5 million researchers have entrusted MDPI with publishing their scientific discoveries. MDPI’s editorial process is bolstered by a network of dedicated reviewers, a team of over 6000 professional, well-trained staff members, and an in-house article submission platform that was designed to ensure efficient processes within its 430 fully open access titles.
MDPI supports over 800 academic institutions worldwide, helping them adhere to national mandates while facilitating authors' publication in fully compliant (CC BY) open access journals.